Lu Jin’s kiss finally descended, gently imprinting upon her lips.
Yet before the lingering warmth on her lips could fully melt away, the initial tenderness transformed into a forceful conquest, the arm encircling her waist tightening its grip.
He was no longer content with a mere taste; his tongue pried open the barrier of her teeth, delving deep, entangling, sucking, and nipping.
Shen Fenghuo’s breath grew thin, and in an instant, Lu Heng lifted her into his arms, taking a few strides before pressing her back against the cool wall of the alley.
Holding her up, he caused the plum blossom hairpin in her hair to loosen, her dark tresses cascading like a waterfall, a few strands slipping over his arm.
Under the moonlight, her eyes glistened with moisture, a silvery thread stretching between their parted lips.
“My lady.”
Lu Heng’s thumb stroked her swollen, reddened lower lip. “Do you know whom you are kissing?”
Shen Fenghuo, dazed from the kiss, grew confused once more.
He was the one who had kissed her first—why was he asking her such a thing…
Lu Heng said no more, scooping her up and striding purposefully toward the nearby Lu Residence.
He passed through the front hall and headed straight for the main chamber in the rear courtyard. Xiangling, waiting beneath the corridor, only had time to catch a glimpse of a tall, upright figure carrying the young mistress, whose cloud-like hair was disheveled, before the door creaked shut tightly.
Xiangling grinned from ear to ear at the person beside her, murmuring, “The young mistress and the master seem to be getting along quite well.”
Another sweet day.
Inside the room, Lu Heng placed Shen Fenghuo onto the brocade quilt, his tall frame immediately enveloping her completely.
His kiss descended once more, even more unrestrained than in the alley moments before. Starting from her lips, which he had sucked into a deep red and slightly swollen state, to her jaw, then lingering along her slender neck.
Sucking, nipping lightly… as if marking her.
As he moved to the other side of her neck, Shen Fenghuo finally found a moment to catch her breath. “Lord…”
“Hmm.”
Lu Heng’s movements did not cease.
He deftly picked up the booklet beside him and held it out before Shen Fenghuo. “My lady, take a look and see which one you prefer. We can try it.”
Shen Fenghuo flusteredly pushed the booklet away. “Good heavens, how did it end up on the bed again!”
How did it appear on the bed every single day?
Always precisely after her bath, and always in the exact same spot.
Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, leaning closer to her. “Shall we not consummate the marriage?”
Shen Fenghuo thought for a moment. “Aren’t you tired, Lord? You haven’t slept for two days and a night.”
“If I get enough sleep, will you be willing to consummate the marriage with me?”
Lu Heng seized her wrist, his gaze burning as he stared at her.
Shen Fenghuo: .
If you want to, just do it. Why ask?
Lu Heng watched her flustered and helpless expression, and aside from the word “charming,” he could think of no other description.
He enjoyed seeing it.
He loved watching her grow flustered because of his words the most.
He released her hand, and the two sat on the edge of the bed, half an arm’s length apart.
“Does my lady think I am good?”
He asked.
Shen Fenghuo nodded. “Very good. Lord is skilled at investigating cases and treats people… very well too.”
Lu Heng was taken aback for a moment, then let out a low chuckle.
Shen Fenghuo felt that this laughter… sounded somewhat bitter.
Just then, Xue Tuan came trotting over, circling around the edge of the bed.
Lu Heng glanced at Xue Tuan. “My lady, go bathe.”
Shen Fenghuo hurried off to the adjoining room.
Soon, the sound of splashing water came from the adjoining room. Lu Heng casually picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the food box on the table and took a bite.
The pastry was soft, sticky, and sweet, rich with the fragrance of honey.
He remarked offhandedly, “The pastries in the box taste quite good.”
"Yes, Lord, isn't this what you brought for me? You said it was given by the Empress for me to eat… I also think it's delicious."
Shen Fenghuo's voice came from the adjoining room.
Lu Heng paused, the pastry halfway to his mouth.
Given by the Empress, brought by him?
He had knelt outside the Zichen Hall in the cold wind for an entire night to seek justice for her from the Empress.
And that had become Lu Jin's favor.
The upright gentleman, couldn't he just be a saint properly?
Why did he have to provoke… provoke his wife.
And even her first kiss was credited to that fellow Lu Jin.
Unhappy.
When Shen Fenghuo came out of the adjoining room, the room was so quiet that only the sound of breathing remained.
Lu Heng lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his dark hair loosely scattered on the pillow, a few strands falling over his forehead.
Xue Tuan obediently lay by his side, a small fluffy ball with long ears drooping.
Shen Fenghuo tiptoed to the bedside, carefully lifted her leg, gently stepped over Lu Heng, and then quickly slipped into the inner side of the bed.
As soon as she lay down, a low, hoarse, and lazy voice came from beside her, "Using me as a threshold again."
Shen Fenghuo turned to look at Lu Heng, seeing his eyes still closed, and whispered, "Lord, you're not asleep?"
"Almost."
"Alright."
Shen Fenghuo responded, reaching out to adjust his collar, "Lord, take off another layer of clothing."
"Hmm?"
"Xiangling airs the bedding and cleans the quilts every day."
Shen Fenghuo explained, remembering the events of the day, she couldn't help but frown, "Today we eliminated that Fei Zhi, it was too dirty, let's not soil the bedding."
Lu Heng slowly sat up as told, raising his hand to remove his outer robe, leaving only his inner garment.
The next moment, he pulled Shen Fenghuo into his arms, yet still kept his eyes closed, his cheek pressed against hers.
"Tell me about what happened today, Lord, alright?"
Shen Fenghuo didn't understand why he suddenly wanted to hear it again, but seeing the heavy dark circles under his eyes, she knew how exhausting these past two days and one night had been for him.
Solving the case quickly was one thing, but a person could collapse from exhaustion.
She thought for a moment, then softly recounted the day's events.
Lu Heng kept his eyes closed the whole time, his breathing steady as if he were already deeply asleep, only his hand resting in her hair occasionally tangling with her strands.
After she finished, he finally spoke in approval, "My lady, you are indeed brave."
Shen Fenghuo whispered, "I definitely won't dare to do it again next time…"
"You said the same thing last night."
Lu Heng chuckled softly, "Who knows, next time you might solve some more cases."
Shen Fenghuo was momentarily speechless, thinking of how to defend herself, but he didn't speak again for a long time.
Just as she thought he had truly fallen asleep, she heard him whisper again, "My lady, I saw the sun today."
"Hmm?"
"The sun was dazzling. And it suits you very well."
Casually spoken, yet it carried a strange sense of preciousness.
His arm still held her, his breathing even and long.
Shen Fenghuo nestled in his embrace, her eyelids growing heavier, unable to resist the deep drowsiness, and soon she too fell into a deep sleep.
The room remained quiet, the two of them and a rabbit.
With the Cat Ghost Case solved, the Empress personally visited Ximing Temple to pray for blessings, decreeing the establishment of the Universal Grace Reward Banquet. All commoners in attendance would receive two bags of new rice and one jin of cured meat, with extra provisions for the orphaned, widowed, elderly, and weak.
When the people received their rewards, they witnessed the Empress personally comforting young children and inquiring after the elderly. The previous rumors and gossip were instantly dispelled.
In the courtyard of the Dali Temple Dining Hall, chaos had reigned for several days.
Those few native chickens reserved for the back kitchen seemed to have gained a spiritual awareness. Each one, though listless, refused to settle down, flapping their wings as they tried to soar over the tall blue-brick wall.
Unfortunately, the wall stood over ten feet high. Each time, the chickens could only crash against it, stumbling and tumbling to the ground, shaking their feathers and clucking in frustration.
Sun Pingshi crouched low, hiding beneath a tree. Unable to stay idle, he had volunteered to help.
He fixed his eyes on the rooster with the brightest plumage, lunged forward, pressed one hand against its back, and with the other, firmly grasped its wings, struggling to restrain the flapping bird.
Turning around with a triumphant expression, Sun Pingshi called out, "Shen Niangzi, come take this one! This chicken is quite the handful!"
Shen Fenghuo already held a chicken in her hand. The kitchen knife in her grip flashed coldly as she made a precise slash across the bird's neck.
The chicken didn't even have a chance to struggle before it perished moments later.
The other chickens in the yard were startled, flapping their wings and flying about in chaos. They crashed into the racks of drying vegetables, scattering them all over the ground.
Though Sun Pingshi served at the Dali Temple, he spent his days buried in case files, dealing only with brushes, ink, paper, and legal documents. He had never witnessed such a swift and decisive act of chicken slaughter, and he felt an inexplicable shudder.
"Thank you, Sun Pingshi."
Shen Fenghuo smiled as she took the chicken, her demeanor a stark contrast to the decisiveness she had shown moments earlier with the knife.
Before Sun Pingshi could regain his composure, he saw her kitchen knife flash once more with another precise slash.
Too brutal.
After mourning the chickens, he still believed Shen Niangzi was an excellent person.
The meals in the Dali Temple canteen, once prepared by her hands, were fragrant and enticing. He even seemed to have gained a bit of weight.
In daily interactions, he observed that she treated everyone with kindness and warmth.
With these thoughts, Sun Pingshi's heart began to race.
He gazed at Shen Fenghuo's profile as she bent over to handle the chicken, lingering for a long while.
"Sun Shaolin! Where are you?"
A colleague's loud shout echoed from afar. "Are we still reviewing the newly delivered case or not?"
Sun Pingshi snapped back to reality, fearing his hidden thoughts might be exposed.
"Shen Niangzi, I… I must get back to work."
He turned and called out, "I'll come back later to help you catch the chickens!"
Without bothering to brush off the chicken feathers stuck to his head, he sprinted toward his office.
Pang Lushi hunched over, leisurely collecting the scattered chicken feathers from the ground.
He carried a small bamboo basket, specifically picking out those with bright colors and sturdy quills, saving them to make little trinkets for his granddaughter.
Seeing Shen Fenghuo finish slaughtering the chickens, he asked, "Shen Niangzi, how will you cook the chicken today?"
"Taro Chicken."
Shen Fenghuo replied with a smile.
Wu Yu had already boiled a large pot of hot water and was pouring it from a kettle into a wooden basin.
He reached out to take the processed chicken from Shen Fenghuo, dipped it into the warm water to scald it briefly, and then, following the direction of the feathers, plucked them off in handfuls.
While plucking, he didn't forget to pick out the better-looking feathers and handed them to Pang Lushi. "Old Pang, these feathers are long and smooth. Keep them for your granddaughter."
Pang Lushi accepted them cheerfully and continued squatting nearby, tidying up.
Shen Fenghuo fetched fresh taro, washed it, peeled off the skin, and cut it into evenly sized rolling wedges.
Several kitchen servants worked in coordination, chopping the cleaned chicken into pieces, mixing them with wine and salt, and letting them marinate briefly.
Shen Fenghuo lit the stove. Once the oil was hot, she added ginger slices and garlic cloves to stir-fry. The marinated chicken pieces were then poured into the pot. As the chicken gradually changed color in the hot oil, the rendered chicken fat enriched the aroma in the wok.
The chicken pieces were stir-fried until their surfaces were slightly charred, then bean paste was added, coating each piece of chicken in a rich, savory sauce. At this point, enough water was poured in to submerge the chicken pieces, brought to a boil over high heat, and the soaked taro chunks were added to the pot.
The lid was placed on, and the dish simmered over low heat.
The broth in the pot bubbled gently, the savory aroma of chicken and the subtle sweetness of taro gradually melding together, wafting out through the gaps in the lid.
Wu Yu tended to the stove nearby, occasionally lifting the lid to give the contents a stir. "The days without Chen Chu are truly wonderful," he remarked.
Chen Chu had taken a half-month leave to return to his hometown. Before leaving, he had specifically instructed the kitchen servants to carefully sun-dry his cured ham, promising to inspect it thoroughly upon his return.
He had been in the midst of a spirited competition with Shen Fenghuo, but his family’s urgent summons left him with no choice. Even as he boarded the donkey cart, his gaze toward Shen Fenghuo seemed to linger, trailing threads of reluctance.
Threads of unwillingness.
He would be back!
After a long simmer, the broth had reduced to a thick consistency, and the taro had become soft, tender, and fully infused with flavor, easily pierced through with a chopstick.
Shen Fenghuo then scattered a handful of scallion segments into the pot, giving it a quick stir to enhance the aroma.
She ladled the finished Taro Chicken into a large bowl. The glossy red chicken pieces nestled among the creamy taro, the broth thick and steaming, its fragrance filling the air.
The first to dig in were several young clerks, sharp-eyed and quick, their chopsticks deftly snagging pieces of bone-in chicken thigh meat.
The first taste was the savory saltiness of the sauce, followed by the tenderness of the chicken.
The chicken had been stewed to perfection—with a gentle press, the meat slid cleanly off the bone, not the least bit dry, leaving a mouthful of rich flavor.
There were, of course, those who knew how to savor the dish, picking up a piece of taro and squinting with pleasure after just one bite.
The taro had absorbed the chicken broth and sauce, becoming so soft and glutinous it barely required chewing. Its creamy texture was brimming with the savory essence of chicken, spreading across the tongue.
This taro was the soul of the dish, even more flavorful than the meat by three parts.
Pang Lushi leisurely picked up a piece of chicken breast, eating with evident relish.
The chicken was stewed until tender and falling apart. Paired with the sauce and rice, he scooped up bowl after bowl, starting with his third serving as usual.
Sun Pingshi also ate with calm contentment.
Watching Shen Fenghuo bustling about, he mustered his courage, picked up his bowl, and approached her. "Shen Niangzi, do you… do you usually have anything you particularly like?"
In the corner, Lu Jin, who had been eating with his head down, slowly looked up at these words.
Shen Fenghuo wiped her hands. "There are many things, too many to list. Delicious food, novel little gadgets—I like quite a lot of things."
Sun Pingshi’s face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly pulled out something wrapped in oiled paper from his sleeve.
He carefully unfolded it to reveal several lifelike sugar figurines, crystal clear and vividly charming.
After offering them to each of the kitchen servants in turn, he finally approached Shen Fenghuo.
"Shen Niangzi, these are for you," he said, handing them over.
"They’re truly beautiful."
Shen Fenghuo took them, examining them closely. "Thank you, Sun Pingshi. I really like them."
"You’re welcome, you’re welcome…"
Sun Pingshi scratched his head, his smile earnest and sincere.
Di Sicheng, who had been poking at a piece of taro in his bowl with his chopsticks, twitched the corner of his mouth.
It was as if a chill had emanated from somewhere, intent on boring holes through the sugar figurines with its gaze.
Sure enough, no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Lu Jin picked up his bowl, stood, and walked directly toward Sun Pingshi.
He took a seat at the empty spot beside Sun Pingshi, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating with deliberate slowness.
Sun Pingshi ate while shoveling rice into his mouth. "Young Minister Lu, the Taro Chicken Shen Niangzi made today is truly delicious!"
Lu Jin continued picking up food without pause. "Hmm."
Sun Pingshi savored several more pieces of taro and continued praising along the same vein. "Shen Niangzi is not only skilled at cooking but also efficient in her work. She truly has talent!"
"Hmm."
"Lady Shen's chicken pieces are so finely cut, marvelous, truly marvelous!"
"Hmm."
"Young Minister Lu, have you seen Lady Shen slaughter a chicken? Wow!"
"…"
Throughout the meal, Sun Pingshi racked his brains for compliments about Shen Fenghuo, from the scallion oil noodles to the pan-fried steamed buns, and even every feather that fell from the chicken, chattering incessantly all the way.
Chief Clerk Shi sharply remarked: Young Minister Lu must have strained his voice from staying up late recently, as he can only say "hmm."
The Dining Hall buzzed with noise, each person having their own voice. When they had almost finished eating, Shen Fenghuo began clearing the dishes.
Lu Jin drank a bowl of the pear soup she had stewed and whispered, "A'He, choose a day for returning to your natal home, and I'll accompany you back."
"Later. I should at least work a full month first. It wouldn't make sense to ask for leave right after starting work."
Lu Jin took a bite of pear. "Then, A'He, when you go to Xi Shi tomorrow to stock up, do you need me to help you carry things?"
"Huh?"
Author's Note: A'He: I'm starting to feel that Lord is getting stranger and stranger.
Lu Heng: This guy is taking credit for others' work and stealing someone's wife.
Lu Jin: Why do I have to guard against polygons? There are threats outside too.